Astros’ 2013 season could be defined by AL West-heavy April schedule

How will the rebuilding Astros and their MLB-low $20 million active payroll fare in 2013?

Can first-year manager Bo Porter continue to motivate, inspire and reach his mix-and-match team throughout a six-month, 162-game season?

Will the Astros defy the baseball world’s expectations and win 70-plus games, or will they drop at least 100 for a third consecutive season?

A sport that annually eats well-reasoned predictions alive will soon begin to evaluate the 2013 Astros, starting with the season opener Sunday against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park.

“Playing the schedule” is often exposed as fool’s gold, but the first month of games could be make-or-break time for baseball’s most meager team.

Thanks to the club’s American League debut, the Astros’ schedule Sunday through April 30 is stacked. Their AL West foes – the Rangers, Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels – play the Astros before May. A challenging nine-game road trip April 8-17 against the Mariners, Angels and A’s is packed in the middle, featuring cross-country flights and late start times. As soon as the young Astros are done, an improved Cleveland Indians team, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees …